Rack for poker chips and the like



NQV. 2, 1948. N N 2 2,453,030

RACK FOR POKER CHIPS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. '7, 1946 INVENTOR. fil mlflwmazq Patented Nov. 2, 1948 Irving I. Newman, Leominster, Mass,assignor to Reliance Molded Plastics, Inc., Providence, R. I.Application October 7, 1946, Serial No. 701,790

3 Claims. (01. 211-49) This invention is directed to an improvement inracks forpoker chips and like game indicating markers, wherein anintegral body is formed to receive and carry the chips in segregatedrows, conveniently assembled therein and readily and easily withdrawnfor use as required.

The rack of the present invention is formed to receive a plurality ofrows of poker chips arin their row formation until entirely free of therack.

The rack is so constructed as to facilitate its formation by molding orlike formation in a single operation, to permit the use of a convenientplastic, and thus provide for ornamental coloring and design in a simpleand economical manner.

The rack is designed to receive an appropriately-formed cover, readilyremoved and applied, which, when in place will prevent the separation ofany chip and yet provide for convenient visibility of all chips.

The rack is designed for completely portable use and to be of relativelysmall size and shape for storing and handling when the chips are notrequired for use, to insure the storing of the rack and chips in asuitcase or the like with the chips always ready for play, intact inassemblage and protected against edge chipping or damage.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is plan view of the improved rack.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, a number of chips being shown in onecompartment.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the cover for the rack, one end being insection.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the rack proper andapplied cover, the chip compartments being shown sufi'iciently open atthe front to expose the contained chips.

The improved rack. is preferably, but not necessarily constructed of anappropriate plastic, in order to provide for simple and economicmanufacture with distinctive coloring and ornamenta tion, but it is tobe understood that it may, if desired, be constructed of any desired orappropriate material capable of appropriate formation and function.

The rack I is of rectangular form including a bottom wall 2 and endwalls 3, defining in effect a rectangular box-like body openat the top.The

body is divided into chip--receiving compartments by'alongitudinally-rangingpartition 4 in the: longitudinal median line ofthe body, dividing-the" body into front and rear areas 5 and 6, and suchareas are divided by transverse partitions 1, dividing such areas intocompartments 8, sizedto more :or less snugly receive a plurality ofchips, indicated at 9 in Fig. 2. The bottom wall 2 is cut away toprovide central openings l0, which extend through the edges of thebottom and are of less transverse dimensions than the diameters of thechips 9. l

The partitions 4 and l are at right anglesrela tively, so that thecompartments 8 are square, and as the chips are circularin plan theywill when in place in the compartments contact the partitions atdiametric points only. As the compartments are open at their ends remotefrom the partition 4', means must be provided to prevent the free exitof the chips in this direction. To provide for this purpose, the ends ofthe partitions 1 have right-angled projections l|, cooperating with twoadjacent compartments 8, and as the portions of the chips in line withthe free ends of the projections are less than the diametric length ofthe chips engaging the partition 4, the partitions H are provided attheir ends with right-angled flanges l2, extending toward the partition4' for a length which will define a space between the ends of theflanges l2 and the partition t to engage the edge of the chipwhen inplace in the compartment.

The chips are thus held in place by diametrlc contact with the partition4", the side partitions l, and the ends of thefianges B2, to preventother than upward movement of any chip and insuch contact as to preventlooseness or rattling of the chips. l

The chips 9, as better shown in Fig. 2 are arranged loosely in therespective compartments, and held against any movement than upwardly,and in order to maintain the chip-rack and chips as compact unit whennot desired for use, a cover i3, Fig. 3, is provided to fit snugly overthe upper end of the body. The end walls 3 of the body are preferablyrecessed at M to insure a frictional retention of the cover. When thecover is in applied position, as in Fig. 4, the chips are fully exposedat the respective sides of the body for visible indication of theirnumber and color distinction to determine their suitability for theintended use, and yet the unit may be handled 3 with casual impunitywithout liability of disturbing or spilling the chips.

From the description and illustration, it will be apparent that with thecover l3 removed, the upper or several upper chips may be removedthrough the upper openin of the compartment. and that if the entire bodyof chips in any compartment are desired to be removed at once, a fingermay be introduced, through the opening I!) in the bottom of thecompartment and the chips in that compartment forced upwardly and out ofthe compartment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rack for poker chips or the like including a body closed at thebottom and ends and open at the top, a series of angularly-relatedpartitions in the body defining a plurality of chip-receivingcompartments, the compartments being sized to more or less snuglyreceive the chips to prevent their movement in each of at least twodirections, certain of the partitions having lateral end projectionswithinwardly-extending end flanges to prevent movement of the chips inanother direction.

4 2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the side portions ofthe body in each compartment between the end flanges are fully open topermit access to the chips, and wherein the flanges are positioned toprevent movement of the chips through said open sided portions of thecompartments.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the defined rack isformed as an integral unit from plastic material.

IRVING I. NEWMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 617,478 Cohen Jan. 10, 1899739,209 Ocumpaugh Sept. 15, 1903 1,011,521 Stone Dec; 12; 1911 1,097,799Godt'fredson May'26,'191'4 1,569,848 Black Jan. 19, 1926 1,934,014 SpahnNov. 7', 1933

